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April 07, 2009

Obama Declares U.S. Not At War With Islam

Video

Barack Obama, making his first visit to a Muslim nation as U.S. president, declared Monday the United States 'is not at war with Islam' and called for a greater partnership with the Islamic world. (April 6) (AP)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Barack Obama, making his first visit to a Muslim nation as president, declared Monday the United States "is not and will never be at war with Islam."

Calling for a greater partnership with the Islamic world in an address to the Turkish parliament, Obama called the country an important U.S. ally in many areas, including the fight against terrorism. He devoted much of his speech to urging a greater bond between Americans and Muslims, portraying terrorist groups such as al Qaida as extremists who did not represent the vast majority of Muslims.

"Let me say this as clearly as I can," Obama said. "The United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical ... in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject."

The U.S. president is trying to mend fences with a Muslim world that felt it had been blamed by America for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Obama said the partnership between the U.S. and the Muslim world is critical in rolling back what he called a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject.

"America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al Qaida," he said. "We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect."

"We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better, including my own country," Obama said.

Obama also said, to a round of applause, that the United States supports Turkey becoming a member of the European Union.

Snipets I have taken from full rtranscript as released by the White House:

Mr. Speaker, Madam Deputy Speaker, distinguished members, I am honored to speak in this chamber, and I am committed to renewing the alliance between our nations and the friendship between our people.

This morning I had the privilege of visiting the tomb of the great founder of your Republic. I was deeply impressed by this beautiful memorial to a man who did so much to shape the course of history. But it is also clear that the greatest monument to Ataturk’s life is not something that can be cast in stone and marble. His greatest legacy is Turkey’s strong and secular democracy, and that is the work that this assembly carries on today.

Let me be clear: the United States strongly supports Turkey’s bid to become a member of the European Union. We speak not as members of the EU, but as close friends of Turkey and Europe. Turkey has been a resolute ally and a responsible partner in transatlantic and European institutions. And Turkey is bound to Europe by more than bridges over the Bosphorous. Centuries of shared history, culture, and commerce bring you together. Europe gains by diversity of ethnicity, tradition and faith – it is not diminished by it. And Turkish membership would broaden and strengthen Europe’s foundation once more.

~ snipet ~

I say this as the President of a country that not too long ago made it hard for someone who looks like me to vote. But it is precisely that capacity to change that enriches our countries. Every challenge that we face is more easily met if we tend to our own democratic foundation. This work is never over. That is why, in the United States, we recently ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed, and prohibited – without exception or equivocation – any use of torture.

Another issue that confronts all democracies as they move to the future is how we deal with the past. The United States is still working through some of our own darker periods. Facing the Washington monument that I spoke of is a memorial to Abraham Lincoln, the man who freed those who were enslaved even after Washington led our Revolution. And our country still struggles with the legacy of our past treatment of Native Americans.

I have made it clear to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic that the United States seeks engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. We want Iran to play its rightful role in the community of nations, with the economic and political integration that brings prosperity and security. Now, Iran’s leaders must choose whether they will try to build a weapon or build a better future for their people.

I know there have been difficulties these last few years. I know that the trust that binds us has been strained, and I know that strain is shared in many places where the Muslim faith is practiced. Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not at war with Islam. In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject.

But I also want to be clear that America’s relationship with the Muslim work cannot and will not be based on opposition to al Qaeda. Far from it. We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. We will listen carefully, bridge misunderstanding, and seek common ground. We will be respectful, even when we do not agree. And we will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better – including my own country. The United States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country – I know, because I am one of them.

Above all, we will demonstrate through actions our commitment to a better future. We want to help more children get the education that they need to succeed. We want to promote health care in places where people are vulnerable. We want to expand the trade and investment that can bring prosperity for all people. In the months ahead, I will present specific programs to advance these goals. Our focus will be on what we can do, in partnership with people across the Muslim world, to advance our common hopes, and our common dreams. And when people look back on this time, let it be said of America that we extended the hand of friendship.

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Wild Thing's comment........

This morning I had the privilege of visiting the tomb of the great founder of your Republic. I was deeply impressed by this beautiful memorial to a man who did so much to shape the course of history.
But it is also clear that the greatest monument to Ataturk’s life is not something that can be cast in stone and marble. His greatest legacy is Turkey’s strong and secular democracy, and that is the work that this assembly carries on today.

Good grief, Ataturk was a Socialist and cruel dictator who worshiped Stalin as his model for running Turkey.

Awhile back I posted about this:
There are 2.3 million Muzzies living in the US. When asked if suicide bombings that result in killing innocent people is justified 25% said “it depends on the circumstances”. A full 5% believe it’s always a good idea to kill “nonbelievers” in any way possible. about 115,000 Muzzies that live, work, play and enjoy the fruits of America on a daily basis.

Jordan -- Christian until Muslim invasions
Egypt -- Christian until Muslim invasions
Iraq -- Mainly Christian until Muslim invasions
Afghanistan -- mostly Buddhist and Hindu until Muslim invasions
Turkey -- Christian until Muslin invasions
Tunisia -- Christian until Muslim invasions
...not to mention others, such as Sudan, ALgeria, Morocco, southern Spain (where it took 800 years to throw the Muslimes out), Albania, and on and on and on and on.

Comments

In Obama's mutual interest!!! I'd bet Obama thinks Gallipoli is someplace inside his teleprompter not a battle to halt Attaturk and his expansion and blockade of the Dardenelle Strait. Like all the left he hasn't met a despot he doesn't love.

Why is he reaching out to those who killed so many for the glory of Allah? They deserve to be shunned. He and his cohorts make it sound like we somehow deserved to be hurt because we are so very bad and they are so very good. BS! I'm tired of his "Let's give Islam a chance." rhetoric. No, I don't want to give Islam a chance. They had their chance and they flubbed it.

Posted by: Lynn at April 7, 2009 08:06 AM

He can visit Ataturk's tomb, but heaven forbid he go to any memorials of our WWII fallen while in Europe. Or even mention them. Or go to any bases to visit our military while so close.

The U.S. may not be at war with islam, but I'm pretty sure islam is at war with us!

Posted by: Rick at April 7, 2009 09:28 AM

So let me get this straight. We are not at war with Islma but with Al queda. So this goes back to the Bushism, that says there are 'moderate' Moslems somewhere in the world. Nobody's really sure where these moderates are but there out there somewhere just waiting to come forward and declare their Moderate-ism.

Has he surrendered our country yet or is that next week.

Posted by: Mark at April 7, 2009 09:29 AM

What a steaming shovelful. This slimy muzzie turd also managed to get in his usual anti American digs.

Hey Liberals, guess what? "He ain't MY president!"

Posted by: TomR at April 7, 2009 01:33 PM

I was up way too early and watched Obummer live from Turkey (while I ate a turkey sandwich, ironically, while watching a turkey--new meaning for TOTUS?...but I digress). He was having one of his painful "got my list of people to call on" Town Halls. He called on a Turkish student (it was an audience of students primarily). She said (this makes me want to puke) that her American friends who were ASHAMED TO BE AMERICAN (asswipes) were proud again after he was elected. He tuh'd and uh'd some patronizing reply (again nauseating) to her, basically affirming that America was great because it was full of enough stupid people who would vote for someone for an iPod or because of their color. Makes me sooooooooooo proud. Also affirms that the Talking Heads Talking Points are successfully being regurgerated around the world, to those naive minds who are too lazy to do their own research for the truth.

I don't know how much more of this we can take. I could give less than a shit what anyone anywhere thinks of us and why are we and I mean WE TAXPAYERS subsidizing all these people around the world? Huh?

I am ready to start a new country free of these treasoness people who have jacked our government and twist the truth and deprive us of free will.

Lynn, you are so right, that sure is what he is doing. He is putting out there with all he is saying that we deserved the attacks on Americans and the Marine base and all the attacks they have done to us.